How We Fund

The Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation is committed to funding charitable organizations that support the Western Queens neighborhoods of Astoria and Long Island City through programs in workforce development/job training, education, adult literacy, and medical research at the Elmezzi School for Molecular Medicine at Feinstein Institute. Grant applicants must demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes and ensure that their program focuses on improving self sufficiency or quality of life. To expand, the programs and organizations the Foundation supports:

  • Demonstrate a strategy to serve people’s needs and a methodology for measuring a program’s success.
  • Are of sufficient quality as to have a positive and measurable impact on the beneficiaries.
  • Respond to the needs of members of the community from an asset-based approach.

The Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation only funds charitable organizations qualified under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation funds organizations with whom it has built long and trusting relationships with, meaning we do not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Exceptions are made, although infrequently, when we receive an exceptionally compelling proposal that explicitly falls within our grantmaking objectives. Instead of applying to the Foundation directly we suggest that you contact us first to ascertain interest. If the organization meets the Foundation’s funding criteria and current priorities, it will be invited to submit a full proposal.

The Board meets frequently throughout the year and most grants are made on an annual basis, except for projects/initiatives that require multi-year support. As a general policy, meetings between Foundation staff and applicants are arranged only if serious consideration of a grant proposal is anticipated. With limited resources compared to the number of grant solicitations, the Foundation is able to fund only a small portion of the many worthwhile requests it receives.

This foundation does not fund:

  • Unsolicited requests
  • Annual appeals, dinner functions, and fundraising events
  • Loans and deficit financing
  • Capital Campaigns
  • International organizations
  • Directly to individuals or to organizations not qualified as charitable organizations under IRS section 501(c)3
  • For foreign travel or foreign study
  • Organizations or programs outside its focus areas